Four Teams to represent SRAM at the 2014 Vuelta a España

The final Grand Tour of the year promises plenty of competition and drama and a bit of history. Tinkoff-Saxo, Cannondale Pro Cycling, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step and MTN-Qhubeka line up Saturday for the start of the Vuelta a España with some of the cycling’s biggest stars and most intriguing storylines - SRAM RED 22.

The Vuelta a España kicks off Aug. 23 with a Team Time Trial (12.6km) in Jerez de la Frontera in the south of Spain, the first of 21 stages covering 3,239.9 kms. The 2014 route has plenty to offer to all types of riders with two individual and one team time trials, five flat stages, 13 mountain stages (5 Medium and 8 High) and not less than 40 passes.

Alberto Contador is back after fracturing his tibia and suffered a deep cut to his right knee in Stage 10 of the Tour de France. He’ll bring his aggressive and determined racing style. Tinkoff-Saxo emerged as one of the strong teams in the Tour, and look for this to continue at the Vuelta.

Vuelta Roster

Daniele Bennati (ITA)

Alberto Contador (ESP)

Jesus Hernandez (ESP)

Sergio Paulinho (POR)

Ivan Rovny (RSU)

Chris Anker Sorensen (DEN)

Matteo Tosatto (ITA)

Michael Valgren (DEN)

Oliver Zaugg (SWI)

Componentry: SRAM RED 22

Bars, Stems, Seatposts: Zipp

Peter Sagan will be going for stage wins and the green jersey. The multi-talented Slovakian proved his consistency at the Tour de France by finishing in the top 5 in an incredible 11 stages. But he’s also really hungry for victories. He will be supported by the most combative rider of the 2014 Tour de France, Alessandro de Marchi.

Vuelta Roster

George Bennett (NZD)

Maciej Bodnar (POL)

Guillaume Boivin (CAN)

Damiano Caruso (ITA)

Oscar Gatto (ITA)

Matthias Krizek (AUT)

Paolo Longo Borghini (ITA)

Alessandro De Marchi (ITA)

Peter Sagan (SKO)

Componentry: SRAM RED 22

This Belgian-based super-team known for its success in the Spring Classics and in time trials will – as it did in the Giro d’Italia – again be working for the GC aspirations of Rigoberto Uran, who showed his potential with a second place at the Giro. Watch also for Tony Martin in the Vuelta’s two individual time trials.

Vuelta Roster

Tom Boonen (BEL)

Gianluca Brambilla (ITA)

Nikolas Maes (BEL)

Tony Martin (GER)

Wout Poels (NED)

Pieter Serry (BEL)

Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL)

Martin Velits (SVK)

Carlos Verona (ESP)

Componentry: SRAM RED 22

Wheels: Zipp

Bar-Stem-Seatpost: Zipp

Power Meter: Quarq

SRAM is proud to support the first ever African team to compete in a Grand Tour. Gerard Ciolek (GER), Sergio Pardilla (ESP) and Daniel Teklehaimanot (ERI) will share their Grand Tour experiences with their six other teammates for who it will be the very first time.

Vuelta Roster

Sergio Pardilla (ESP)

Gerald Ciolek (GER)

Louis Meintjes (RSA)

Jay Thomson (RSA)

Jaco Venter (RSA)

Jacques Janse van Rensburg (RSA)

Daniel Teklehaimanot (ERI)

Merhawi Kudus (ERI)

Kristian Sbaragli (ITA)

Componentry: SRAM RED 22

Wheels: Zipp

As a proud supporter of Women’s Cycling, SRAM is excited to see a new important race in the 2015 Women’s racing calendar. Following the Tour de France initiative, in 2015 the Vuelta a España will feature a women’s race.

Follow the action throughout the race with our SRAM Road Sports Marketing insiders @SRAMRacing on Twitter and Instagram as well as your source for SRAM Road info, @SRAMRoad on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.